In the end, under the persuasion of FengYuchen, she left the shrine and joined their team. Haruna's inclusion immediately strengthened their power, leaving the ordinary Japanese survivors speechless with amazement at her ability to control zombies, as if she were a spokesperson for the gods.
In times of chaos, ordinary people have a sense of awe and admiration for those with legendary powers.
Haruna's presence also helped FengYuchen stabilize the people's hearts. With a divine shrine maiden among them, they felt assured and less prone to wandering thoughts, allowing them to focus on their tasks.
"Haruna, what were you doing before?" In their spare time, FengYuchen began to inquire about her background.
Haruna replied,"I've been a shrine maiden since childhood. I didn't have parents and was fostered in a shrine in Tokyo. Grandpa Kagami taught me to read and study the ways of a shrine maiden. I performed in the annual festivals. After Grandpa Kagami passed away, I stayed at the shrine. I found a phone one day, something I recognized...
Then I came here. I believe it's the will of the gods that brought me to this world to punish the demons (zombies). Yes, it must be."
FengYuchen couldn't help but sigh for Haruna's tragic life. It turned out she hadn't even attended school and had been completely isolated in the shrine, learning only the various ceremonial matters related to shrine maidens. Such a person, FengYuchen found, was impossible to dislike; instead, he felt a sense of protection towards her.
"How did you gain the power to control them (zombies)? How did you learn it?" FengYuchen couldn't help but ask. It was the thing he most wanted to know. If he knew the secret behind Haruna's ability to control zombies, it would be extremely helpful for him.
After all, the ability to control zombies was already a mythical existence, fundamentally different from the ordinary martial arts techniques they used. FengYuchen wouldn't be afraid if Haruna could only control a few zombies to attack him, but if the number she could control increased, he knew he wouldn't be able to handle it easily.
"The ability to control demons? Well, I don't really know. I just thought about controlling those demons in my head, and then I could control them. I just did it, without any particular reason, you know? Shrine maidens must have this kind of power." Haruna replied.
Sweat...
Haruna's answer left FengYuchen speechless. If it were that simple, anyone could do it. Besides, being a shrine maiden didn't necessarily mean anything. FengYuchen and his group had encountered several abandoned shrines where the shrine maidens had met unfortunate ends. Clearly, being a shrine maiden didn't guarantee anything.
However, FengYuchen didn't intend to pursue the matter further. After all, Haruna seemed completely clueless, like an innocent girl. She didn't seem capable of analyzing deeper matters.
...
One month later...
FengYuchen and his team finally established a stronghold in a small village. It took them a few days to hunt down and incinerate the existing zombies in the village, then they organized the farmland and other resources, giving the place the appearance of a base.
Now, FengYuchen's team had grown to over fifty people, with more than thirty of them capable of combat. The rest were women and children who were unable to fight.
"Senior, we've completed the statistics for all personnel and arranged tasks according to their abilities," said Saya Takagi.
"The farmland has been cleared, and although some of it was damaged, most of it can still be utilized. With summer approaching, we'll soon have a harvest of crops. Additionally, there are a few old noodle presses and stone mills in the village that we've managed to repair and put to use," said Mizuki Rin.
"The houses available for accommodation and the edible food in the village have all been sorted out and registered. Accommodations for everyone have been arranged, and food supplies have been stored. For the time being, we have enough food to sustain us," Nakaoka Asami said.
"All medical supplies and items have been organized. A small portion of them are usable, and we can temporarily handle various medical emergencies. However, we cannot guarantee precise treatment for conditions requiring surgery, although common symptoms like fever and colds can be treated," Shizuka Marikawa added.
"No zombies detected wandering to the east," Komuro Takao reported.
"No zombies detected wandering to the west," NanLixiang reported.
"No demons detected to the north," Haruhi Suzumiya stated.
"No zombies detected wandering to the south," Kohta Hirano reported.
...
One by one, individuals came to report to FengYuchen, providing updates on various aspects of their situation. At present, FengYuchen's team demonstrated sufficient organizational capability.
"Buzz... Boom... Buzz..."
At that moment, several helicopters descended from the sky and landed on the ground. Sho Miyamoto stepped out of one of them with a grim expression.
"I finally found you. So, you've established a basic base here..." Sho Miyamoto entered the village where FengYuchen and his team were stationed, surprised to find everything running smoothly. The zombies in the village had been cleared, and everyone was busy with their tasks. Was this the beginning of a new hope?
"Dad..." Rei Miyamoto rushed over and embraced Sho Miyamoto.
"You've gotten a bit thinner, but you've also become more mature. Let's talk later. Fūji and I have important matters to discuss. Okay, sweetheart?" Sho Miyamoto patted Rei Miyamoto's shoulder.
FengYuchen cut to the chase:"Alright, let's discuss inside. Officer NanLixiang and Saya, please join us."
"Sure..."
Sho Miyamoto followed FengYuchen into his temporary command center.
"Sigh... Since I left with the blood sample, I reunited with the military in Hokkaido and conducted an experiment. The experiment was successful in suppressing the zombie virus outbreak. However, during the subsequent vaccine cultivation process, a major incident occurred. The result we obtained is that the blood serum is a disposable item. Cloning attempts using biotechnology in the epidemic area were futile. In other words, the serum samples cannot be cloned and can only be used once..." Sho Miyamoto immediately disclosed the truth, his expression grim, though not directed at FengYuchen.